Marking another significant milestone in its ongoing efforts to deepen engagement with India’s travel trade, South African Tourism commenced its latest multi-city ‘Learn South Africa’ workshop series in Kolkata on Jan 16. Reflecting the steady rise in outbound travel interest from non-metro markets, the series will culminate with its final leg in Lucknow on Feb 27.
Designed to tap into the growing appetite for international travel across tier-2 cities, the workshop series aims to equip travel trade partners with deeper destination knowledge and practical tools to curate immersive and personalised South Africa itineraries. The sessions spotlight the country’s diverse tourism offerings—ranging from cultural routes and wildlife experiences to adventure travel and emerging regions beyond traditional favourites such as Cape Town and Johannesburg.
With non-metro travellers increasingly seeking curated, experience-led journeys, the ‘Learn South Africa’ workshops play a pivotal role in enhancing partner readiness to capitalise on the rising demand for South Africa as a preferred leisure and MICE destination.
India continues to be a vital source market for South African Tourism, with Kolkata emerging as an increasingly important contributor. The city is supported by a strong base of legacy corporates, MSMEs, and a growing segment of outbound leisure travellers. The Kolkata workshop equips travel partners with enhanced destination insights, enabling them to design tailored itineraries that align with the city’s evolving travel aspirations, further strengthening South Africa’s appeal for both leisure and MICE segments.
Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Gcobani Mancotywa, Regional General Manager – Asia, Australasia, and the Middle East, South African Tourism, said: “Travellers from Kolkata—including well-travelled families, professionals, and affluent leisure seekers—are increasingly inclined towards meaningful, experience-rich holidays that blend wildlife, natural beauty, heritage, cuisine, and relaxed luxury. South Africa’s diversity across landscapes, experiences, and cities resonates strongly with these evolving preferences. Our engagement with Kolkata’s travel trade community has been extremely positive, and we are confident it will inspire more travellers from the city to explore South Africa’s diverse regions beyond the traditional entry points. These workshops remain central to our strategy of showcasing the depth, diversity, and strong appeal of South Africa as a leading leisure and MICE destination.”
The 11th edition of ‘Learn South Africa’ in Kolkata marks a key milestone in South African Tourism’s sustained commitment to strengthening partnerships with India’s travel trade professionals. In line with the Tourism Board’s strategic vision to position South Africa as a versatile, high-value destination, the Rainbow Nation continues to deepen its engagement in tier-2 cities, recognising their growing influence in shaping India’s outbound travel growth story.
